Premium subscription
Of the three available subscription tiers of GemStone IV, Premium is the second, priced at $25.00 on top of the Basic subscription fee. Being subscribed at the premium tier is often referred to in-character as being a member of the Four Winds Hall.
Subscription Benefits
Members of Four Winds have many special membership benefits.
- Main article: Long-term Benefits
Four Winds Halls
Many towns have small areas which are accessible only to premium subscribers known as Four Winds Halls. These areas house containers providing premium subscribers access to the teleportation jewelry necessary to reach Mist Harbor. Directions to each hall can be found in game by typing PREMIUM 4.
Mist Harbor Teleportation Jewelry
- Main article: Premium teleportation jewelry
Access to Mist Harbor, a premium-only town, is available to premium subscribers by means of special teleportation jewelry. These jewelry items are available at a town's Four Winds Hall.
When TURNed while within a public area in any town, these jewelry items will teleport the wearer to a random point within the town of Mist Harbor (which is accessible only by this method, and thus, only by premium subscribers.) The return trip will return the character to their last non-Mist Harbor location exactly. These items of jewelry are available in a special location (often a table) located inside the Four Winds Hall in their town. They are attuned to the claiming character, and as such are worthless if given away or found elsewhere than the original source. Different patterns and item types are available in various towns.
A person can have as many of these teleportation jewelry items as they want, and they can be used both while worn or while held in the hand. Special messaging is also available via merchant, and a grounding service can also be performed by a merchant for citizens of Mist Harbor only.
Premium Spell of the Month
- Main article: Premium spell of the month
Subscribers may pick up an item that will change spells monthly and is for one or two uses per day, depending on the spell.
Premium Transport System
The Premium Transport System is a benefit to premium subscription members that affords inter-realm travel between premium halls. Each of the eight premium halls has a transport room (each room has its own unique colored doorway) near the hall's entrance where tickets may be purchased for inter-hall transport. Each transport room will have a sign with ticket purchasing instructions, pricing and restrictions, and a portal. After purchasing a transport ticket you can enter the portal. Inside the portal will be a nexus of rooms, each leading to a hall in a different realm.
Lockers, Manifests, and Bankbooks
Other benefits include access to the LOCKER verb, locker manifest books and bankbooks (which allow portable but read-only access to the character's bank balances and locker contents worldwide). Additionally, Premium subscribers get larger lockers, and access to nearly instant locker moving for a small fee (see the Moving Company in your town). Bankbooks are available east of the teller at the Four Wind Isles bank.
Merchant Services
A number of merchants visit Four Winds Isle or the various Premium Halls on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Some of these include:
- Xerria Unlocks (monthly)
- Lady Merrielle Monthly Raffle
- Animal companion grooming raffle (monthly)
- Felthrop's Raffles (monthly)
- Ravias Raffle (usually an Arkati symbol, monthly)
- Artifact Raffle (monthly)
- Naelyne Sews (monthly)
- Soirissa Sews (monthly)
- Jebariah (transporters, bi-monthly)
- Geltrude Tattoos (bi-monthly)
- Arbigail (bi-monthly)
- Nycolle (labels, bi-monthly)
- Juramis' Incantations of Elimination (Remove item properties)
Other unscheduled merchants will appear occasionally and usually send a message to all premium subscribers that are logged in.